Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for a hybrid electrochemical cell which utilizes two different chemistries in the same cell. According to one aspect, the hybrid cell includes a first pair of electrode units which form a first electrochemical cell and a second pair of electrode units, which form a second electrochemical cell. The second electrochemical cell utilizes a different chemistry than the first electrochemical cells, but both chemistries share a common electrolyte. The hybrid cell further comprises a common electrolyte layer provided between each pair of electrodes. In certain implementations, the common electrolyte layer is a single cavity such that the electrolyte is shared between both the first and the second electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Bipolar electrosurgical forceps are provided with dual irrigating tubes that deliver irrigating liquid to the opposed surfaces of the tips of the forceps to prevent the sticking of body tissue to the tips. To reduce the manufacturing costs of the forceps and enable the forceps to be single use, disposable forceps, each tube of the dual irrigating tools is a plastic tube adhered along one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of forceps arms. Each tube also has a flat nozzle at the distal end of the tube that disburses irrigating liquid across the opposed surfaces of the forceps arm distal and tips.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a trocar system are disclosed. The system generally includes a handle having a first end a second end, a trocar disposed adjacent the first end of the handle, a plurality of cannulas disposed on the trocar simultaneously, and a drive system. The drive system is disposed for forward movement of the cannulas in a longitudinal direction away from the first end of the handle.

Abstract: A microsurgical instrument has a pair of operative surgical surfaces that are moved relative to each other in shearing or grasping procedures performed by the instrument. The instrument has a handle containing an elongate center rod with a ring mounted for reciprocating movement on the rod. A tube is secured to the ring and a shaft extends through the tube and is secured to the rod. The handle also includes a plurality of resilient arms that extend along the length of the rod and engage against a sliding surface of the ring on the rod. The plurality of actuator arms are alternatively manually compressed radially inwardly by the surgeon's hand and released by the surgeon's hand to allow the arms to flex radially inwardly and outwardly. The inward and outward movement of the plurality of arms reciprocates the ring on the handle rod and causes the tube and shaft to move axially relative to each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a trocar system are disclosed. The system generally includes a handle having a first end a second end, a trocar disposed adjacent the first end of the handle, cannulas disposed on the trocar, and a drive system. The drive system is disposed for forward movement of the cannulas in a longitudinal direction away from the second end of the handle.

Abstract: A stacked battery has at least two cell segments arranged in a stack. Each cell segment may have a first electrode unit having a first active material electrode, a second electrode unit having a second active material electrode, and an electrolyte layer between the active material electrodes. One or more gaskets may be included in each cell segment to seal the electrolyte within the cell segment. The electrode units may be “dish shaped” and may contain a pressure equalization valve to reduce electrode unit deflection and improve pressure equalization between cell segments. The pressure equalization valve may allow a gas to diffuse through adjacent cell segments and may substantially prevent electrolyte from diffusing through.

Abstract: A microsurgical instrument has a pair of operative surgical surfaces that are moved relative to each other in shearing or grasping procedures performed by the instrument. The instrument has a handle containing an elongate center rod with a ring mounted for reciprocating movement on the rod. A tube is secured to the ring and a shaft extends through the tube and is secured to the rod. The handle also includes a plurality of resilient arms that extend along the length of the rod and engage against a sliding surface of the ring on the rod. The plurality of actuator arms are alternatively manually compressed radially inwardly by the surgeon's hand and released by the surgeon's hand to allow the arms to flex radially inwardly and outwardly. The inward and outward movement of the plurality of arms reciprocates the ring on the handle rod and causes the tube and shaft to move axially relative to each other.

Abstract: A surgical instrument handle having a cam-actuated system is disclosed. The surgical instrument handle includes a rotating member that defines a cam-actuating surface operatively engaged with a locking member, which is fixedly engaged to a reciprocating member for moving the reciprocating member between a retracted and extended positions. The cam-actuating surface of the rotating member is configured to permit the locking member to slide along the cam-actuating surface such that the tangential angle along the point of contact between the locking member and the cam-actuating surface is maintained at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A system for conducting a vitrectomy includes: a gas source; a vitrector including a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure at the vitrector; and a pulse-generating system receiving gas from the gas source and generating pulses at the vitrector. The pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle, and the varying pressure at the vitrector causes the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close. At a first time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system, raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure. At a second time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, the pressure at the vitrector being maintained at least at the minimum pressure. The difference between the maximum pressure and minimum pressure is minimized to reduce gas consumption.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a trocar system are disclosed. The system generally includes a handle having a first end a second end, a trocar disposed adjacent the first end of the handle, cannulas disposed on the trocar, and a drive system. The drive system is disposed for forward movement of the cannulas in a longitudinal direction away from the second end of the handle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a trocar system are disclosed. The system generally comprises a trocar, a magnet, and a magnetizable cannula. The trocar has a first end and a second end. The magnetizable cannula has a central opening sized to receive the trocar. The magnet is positioned adjacent the second end of the trocar and its magnetic field releasably secures the magnetizable cannula in a position adjacent the second end of the trocar.

Abstract: Disposable, bipolar electrosurgical forceps are designed to prevent the sticking of body tissue to the tips of the forceps and include a pair of electrode arms having lengths with opposite proximal and distal ends, with thin layers of biocompatible metal on the forceps arm distal ends and bipolar electrical conductors permanently secured to the forceps arm proximal ends.

Abstract: Disposable, bipolar electrosurgical forceps are designed to prevent the sticking of body tissue to the tips of the forceps and include a pair of electrode arms having lengths with opposite proximal and distal ends, with thin layers of biocompatible metal on the forceps arm distal ends and bipolar electrical conductors permanently secured to the forceps arm proximal ends.

Abstract: An energy storage device is provided that includes a bipolar conductive substrate having a first side coupled to a first substack and a second side coupled to a second substack. The first and second substacks have a plurality of alternately stacked positive and negative monopolar electrode units. Each respective monopolar electrode unit has a first and second active material electrode layer on opposing sides of a conductive pathway. A separator is provided between adjacent monopolar electrode units. The conductive pathways of the positive monopolar electrode units are electronically coupled to form a positive tabbed current bus, and the conductive pathways of the negative monopolar electrode units are electronically coupled to form a negative tabbed current bus. The negative tabbed current bus of the first substack and the positive tabbed current bus of the second substack are coupled to the first and second side of the bipolar conductive substrate respectively.

Abstract: A system for conducting a vitrectomy includes: a gas source; a vitrector including a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure at the vitrector; and a pulse-generating system receiving gas from the gas source and generating pulses at the vitrector. The pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle, and the varying pressure at the vitrector causes the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close. At a first time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system, raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure. At a second time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, the pressure at the vitrector being maintained at least at the minimum pressure. The difference between the maximum pressure and minimum pressure is minimized to reduce gas consumption.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deoxygenating ophthalmic fluid are disclosed. The systems include an infusion system having a valve having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of gas, a first outlet in fluid communication with a container of ophthalmic fluid, and a second outlet in fluid communication with an infusion line of the system. The valve directs gas into the fluid disposed in the container to deoxygenate the fluid, and the deoxygenated fluid is then injected into the eye.

Abstract: A microsurgical instrument is constructed to an extremely small scale with serrations formed on opposed operative microsurgical surfaces of the instrument by electric discharge machining.

Abstract: A surgical instrument handle is removably attachable to a surgical instrument head for operation of a microsurgical instrument on the head by manipulation of the instrument handle. The instrument handle has an elongate center rod with a piston mounted on the rod for reciprocating movement. The piston engages with a piston in the attached surgical instrument head for operation of the microsurgical instrument of the head. A tapered ring is mounted on the rod and engages with the piston for reciprocating the piston. A plurality of resilient arms extend along the length of the rod and engage against a sliding surface of the ring. The plurality of resilient arms are alternatively squeezed radially inwardly by the surgeon's hand and released by the surgeon's hand to allow the resilient arms to flex radially outwardly. The inward and outward movement of the plurality of arms reciprocates the piston on the handle rod to cause operation of the surgical instrument head.

Abstract: A unique computer implemented logistics data management tool/technique for secure resident operation on a mobile computerized device—and associated system and computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, executable program code and instructions—encompassing certain cornerstone modules: product generation module; data update module; and secure services module. Features of the three modules interoperate for secure downloading to the mobile computerized device for resident operation thereon whether in any of the following categories of wireless communication: Connected, Disconnected, and Occasionally Connected.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgery illuminated directional laser probe has a handle and a rigid tubular tip projecting from the handle, and has an illumination optic fiber and a laser optic fiber that extend through the handle and the tip. A mechanism on the handle is operable to extend distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber from the distal end of the instrument tip, and to retract the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber back into the interior of the tip. At least one of the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber is held in a curved configuration. The distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are secured to each other, whereby both the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber curve into a bent configuration as the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are extended from the distal end of the instrument tip.